So I wander into this little jazz bar and there's a quartet playing on the stage. What strikes me immediately is the amazing dexterity and prowess so evident as I watch hands literally flying over the instruments.

As my eyes adjust to the light I realize that there are actually five players, the fifth being a second Upright Bassist. I hadn't noticed him at first as he was like a pillar of peace in back of the frenzy, playing only a single note every two or three bars.

Later, I get to meet that second Bassist and I ask him about the musical arrangement with him just playing every now and then.

"I'm just playing the notes the other guys is lookin' for"

As told to me by a true road warrior as we chatted about 'playing the holes'.

 

 

 

I recalled this story after reading a post by Edpas on the Bose Musicians Discussion Boards.